Tennessee trucker survives tornado twist, flip in Harrisburg (Ill.)

Wednesday

Feb 29, 2012 at 12:01 AMFeb 29, 2012 at 12:31 AM

HARRISBURG -- A Tennessee trucker survived a twist and a flip this morning when the tornado that roared across South Commercial Street ripped his semi tractor trailer across and over the Walmart parking lot.

Jon Musgrave

HARRISBURG -- A Tennessee trucker survived a twist and a flip this morning when the tornado that roared across South Commercial Street ripped his semi tractor trailer across and over the Walmart parking lot.

After Wayne Potee of Fayetteville, Tenn., dropped off his last load of mattresses at Harrisburg Furniture Monday night he headed down the road to the supercenter for a few hours of sleep.

"The hail hit, the power went out, the truck rocked and I just got slammed against the wall," Potee recalled a few hours later while getting pictures of the overturned semi for his employer, Three Rivers Express out of Shelbyville, Tenn.

When the storm hit he had enough time to get out of his sleeper, put on some pants and get in the front seat to see what was happening.

Ron Holland of Eagle Valley Trucking out of Shawneetown had parked next to Potee. He woke up earlier and was able to turn his truck around before the tornado came through.

"It just turned him over and swung the truck around," Holland said pointing to the broken curb where the truck hit.
Holland had to explain that because Potee said he doesn't actually remember that moment.

"The first thing I think I thought of was my TV," he said referring to a new 27" LCD he had just purchased. "I looked around and looked down and saw I was standing on it."

Below him was the passenger side door. Trapped inside for a bit, the other driver Holland climbed up on the rig and opened the door for him to escape with just a few scrapes and bruises.

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